On Aug. 27, FC recieved an email from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (APCD) that the air quality ratings have dropped over the past few days, warning students, teachers, coaches and parents alike to keep an eye out for pollution warnings.
This specific warning states that a 130 horsepower diesel-fired engine is currently located at the Carrington Pointe retirement home next to FC to pump water for a fire suppression system. The email states that any residents or regular visitors 1000 feet from the site of the project is in danger of smog and/or diesel pollution.
With the valley’s history, a warning like this is not uncommon. Due to the shape of the San Joaquin Valley and the fact that the surrounding mountain ranges act like a bowl, the area is the perfect place for smog and pollution to accumulate. As a result, a warning like this should be taken seriously.
Head football coach and athletic director Mick Fuller says that air pollution is a very serious thing and that people everywhere, especially athletes, should take it seriously.
“When the air is unheatly, we don’t practice or we give increased water breaks, work in shade or indoors,” Fuller said. “I particularly watch and limit the work load of students who have asthma.”
Athlete Jordan Castro, ’15, who has asthma, pays extra-close attention to the air quaility warnings and ratings.
“My mom always asks me what the air quality is,” Castro said. “It has to be moderate or below otherwise I can’t go outside and I have to take my asthma medicine.”
Principal Todd Bennett agrees that the school should take precautions when warnings like this take place. Bennett does his part by ordering updates to be sent directly to his phone.
“I have it [updates] bookmarked on my email and have updates sent to my phone everyday,” Bennett said. “We let our yard duties and coaches know when it gets to red or orange. We want our kids to be safe.”
The San Joaquin Valley APCD is the local regulatory agency for eight different counties in the central valley. The city of Fresno is located in the central region which includes Madera, Kings and Fresno counties. The Air District’s mission “is to improve the health and quality of life for all residents through efficient, effective and entrepreneurial air quality management strategies,” according to their website.
Ruth Crisp of the San Joaquin Valley Air District is an outreach and communications representative who specifically works with the public to help get the news and importance of air quality out there.
“People can do many things to improve air quality,” Crisp said. “The number one thing that causes air pollution is cars. Actually 80% of pollution comes from cars. So, simple things like carpooling, trip-linking, riding bikes or walking are all things that people can do.”
She has been on staff there for about three years and she is all out for healthy air living. She encourages people everywhere to follow the necessary warnings and to do their part to help the environment.
“We stress healthy air living,” Crisp said. “The idea is if every person does one thing every week to improve our air quality, it would greatly affect our air quality for the better.”
For more information on air quality for the Central Valley, visit San Joaquin Valley’s website or Healthy Air Living’s website. For any questions, please call the outreach and communications center at (559)-230-6000.
For more news, read the Sept. 4 article, Academic Decathlon team discontinued.
